FYI Joe Coleman
-----Original Message-----
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 1/9/2018
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/central and southern DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments and questions: voice@xxxxxxxxxxx
Compiler: Joe Coleman
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central
Atlantic States (independent of NAS)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle
Please consider joining ANS, especially if you are a regular user of the
Voice of the Naturalist (Individual $50; Family $65; Nature Steward $100;
Audubon Advocate $200). The membership number is 301-652-9188, option 12;
the address is 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815; and the web site
is http://www.anshome.org.
This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon Naturalist
Society. This report covers the week starting Tuesday, January 2 and was
completed on Tuesday, January 9 at 12:25 a.m.
Information on noteworthy birds is presented below in taxonomic order, as
set forth in the American Ornithological Society Checklist for North and
Middle American Birds, as revised through the 58th Supplement (July 2017).
The top birds this week were KING EIDER in MD, SNOWY OWL in DC, DE, MD and
VA, SAY'S PHOEBE* in VA, HARRIS'S SPARROW* in MD and VA, SHINY COWBIRD* in
MD, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER* in VA, and WESTERN TANAGER* in VA.
Other birds of interest this week included waterfowl, EARED GREBE,
hummingbirds, SANDHILL CRANE, RED KNOT, gulls, GREAT CORMORANT, AMERICAN
BITTERN, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, SHORT-EARED OWL, LOGGERHEAD
SHRIKE, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, SEDGE WREN, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, sparrows,
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, warblers, PAINTED BUNTING, and
DICKCISSEL.
TOP BIRDS
A female KING EIDER was seen Jan 8 at Assateague Island NS, Worcester Co,
MD.
SNOWY OWLS winter continued in the reporting area with sightings in all
jurisdictions. In D.C. one was reported on an office building in the 1300
block of C St SW on Jan 8. In DE a continuing SNOWY OWL was seen all week
along Fowler Beach Road in Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co, and another SNOWY OWL
was seen Jan 2 and 3 along Port Mahon Rd, Kent Co. In MD a SNOWY OWL was
seen Jan 2 at Assateague SP, Worcester Co, MD. In VA, a SNOWY OWL continued
to be seen throughout the week at the Dulles Airport, Loudoun Co (the Dulles
Police Department requests that birders call ahead when they plan to bird
there by calling 703- 572-2954). Also in VA, another continues at the Mt.
Crawford McDonald's in Rockingham Co with a report from Jan 2; and a
continuing bird on the jetty and pier in West Point, King William Co seen
again on Jan 3.
A SAY'S PHOEBE* was seen Jan 3 along Hybla Farm Rd, King William Co, VA.
The HARRIS'S SPARROW* in Bladensburg, Prince George's Co, MD continued to be
seen on a side trail off the Anacostia River Trail, with the most recent
sighting Jan 8.
The SHINY COWBIRD* continues near the intersection of Parkwood Drive and
Franklin Street in the Kensington neighborhood in Bethesda, Montgomery Co,
MD, with the most recent sighting on Jan 5.
The BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER* at 103 Exeter Court in James City Co, VA
was last reported Jan 2.
A male WESTERN TANAGER* was seen Jan 3 and 4 at a feeder in Yorktown, York
Co, VA.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
SNOW GEESE turned up at several inland locations this past week. ROSS'S
GEESE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, and CACKLING GEESE were also seen at a
number of locations this past week. Highly unusual inland, an immature BRANT
turned up Jan 2 in ponds along Main St in Darnestown, Montgomery Co, MD; it
was seen again on the 5th with a flock of Canada Geese at the corner of Rte
28 and Main St.
TRUMPETER SWANS also turned up in a number of locations this past week. One
with wing tag, R24, was at the Avtex Fibers Superfund Site Conservancy Park,
Warren Co, VA, on Jan 3. Another continuing swan was seen in a pond on
Claybrook Dr and Ivy St, Waynesboro, VA throughout the week. Two previously
reported TRUMPETER SWANS were seen again on Jan 6 at the Eggleston Boat
Ramp, Giles Co, VA. Additionally, the resident Fauquier Co TRUMPETER SWANS
turned up there and in a number of neighboring counties on and off during
the week.
A EURASIAN WIGEON was seen Jan 7 at Anderson Park, Newport News, VA. A
EURASIAN WIGEON was also seen throughout the week at Pohick Bay RP, Fairfax
Co, VA. The continuing male EURASIAN WIGEON was seen again at the Poplar
Spring Animal Sanctuary, Poolesville, Montgomery Co, MD on Jan 5. Both
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and LONG-TAILED DUCKS turned up at a number of inland
locations throughout the week.
An EARED GREBE was seen Jan 2 and 3 at Pohick Bay RP, Fairfax Co, VA.
A lingering RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD continued to visit a feeder in
Virginia Beach, VA through Jan 3. A female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was last seen
on Jan 3 visiting a feeder in the Wildewood Neighborhood of St. Mary's Co,
MD.
Two SANDHILL CRANES were seen Jan 7 in the fields along Spinks Mill Rd,
Lucketts, Loudoun Co, VA. On the same day four SANDHILL CRANES were seen in
a field along JFK Memorial Hwy at Raphel Rd, Baltimore Co, MD.
A RED KNOT was seen throughout the week at the Ocean City (MD) Inlet,
Worcester Co, MD.
One, and possibly two, BLACK-HEADED GULLS were seen Jan 2, 3, and 8 at the
Wolfe Neck WTP (restricted access), Sussex Co, DE. Single ICELAND GULLS
(Kumlien's) turned up at a number of locations in VA this past week with one
at the Occoquan RP, Fairfax Co, VA on Jan 3, 4, and 6; one at Rudee Inlet,
Virginia Beach, VA on Jan 4; one at the Walmart Ponds in Colonial Heights,
VA on Jan 4; and in Virginia Beach, one on Jan 5 at 57th St and another on
Jan 8 at the Lynnhaven fishing pier. In MD ICELAND GULLS were seen Jan 2 and
3 at the Salisbury Landfill, Wicomico Co; on Jan 8 at the Cambridge
(Dorchester Co) Waterfront; on Jan 3, 6, and 8 at the North East Community
Park, Cecil Co; and on Jan 8 at the Trash Transfer Station, Howard and Anne
Arundel Co. A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen throughout the week at the Occoquan RP,
Fairfax Co, VA. Another GLAUCOUS GULL was seen Jan 4 at Rudee Inlet,
Virginia Beach, VA.
GREAT CORMORANTS were seen at Indian River Inlet, Sussex Co, DE throughout
the week with as many as five there Jan 8.
An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen Jan 2 at the Grandview Nature Preserve,
Hampton, VA. An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen throughout the week at Black
Marsh, North Point SP, Baltimore Co, MD. Two LEAST BITTERNS were seen Jan 6,
7, and 8 at Little Island Park, Virginia Beach, VA.
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen throughout the week at the Dulles Airport,
Loudoun Co, VA. A light phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen Jan 3 along Russell
Rd, Garrett Co, MD. Another light phase bird was seen Jan 6 flying near the
intersection of Rte 50 and Rte 340 a little west of the Blandy Experimental
Farm, Clarke Co, VA. The continuing ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen along Fowler
Beach Rd, Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co, DE Jan 2 and 3.
On Jan 2 a GOLDEN EAGLE was seen at the Hagerstown Mall ponds, Washington
Co, MD. Another was briefly seen Jan 3 on the Patuxent River at the end of
Buena Vista Rd, Calvert Co, MD. A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen Jan 2 at Willis
Wharf, Northampton Co, VA and another flew over private property in
Westmoreland Co, VA on Jan 6. Also on the 6th, a GOLDEN EAGLE was seen and
photographed at Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co, VA.
As many as two SHORT-EARED OWLS continue to be seen at the Konterra Dr
fields and ponds, Prince George's Co, MD with sightings on Jan 2, 3, and 6;
please do not trespass at this location.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen Jan 3 at the Smith Farm, Lunenburg County, VA.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was also seen Jan 6 along Langhorne Rd, Albemarle Co,
VA.
A BLUE-HEADED VIREO was seen Jan 3 along Hybla Rd, King William Co, VA.
A continuing SEDGE WREN was seen Jan 3 at the Jefferson Patterson Park &
Museum, Calvert Co, MD.
On Jan 2 and 3 two LAPLAND LONGSPURS were spotted at the edge of the beach
at the end of Fowler Beach Rd, Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co, DE. One was also
seen with a flock of Horned Larks on Jan 7 along Port Mahon Rd, Kent Co, DE.
With AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS so scarce this winter, the four seen at the
Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA on Jan 8 were a nice find. A
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW continues at the Laurel Hill Equestrian Center in
Fairfax Co, VA, with the most recent sighting on Jan 7. A VESPER SPARROW was
seen Jan 6 along Egypt Rd, Dorchester Co, MD. A VESPER SPARROW was also seen
Jan 8 at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad SP, Dorchester Co, MD. The
continuing LECONTE'S SPARROW was seen Jan 7 at the Beasley Tract, Princess
Anne WMA, Virginia Beach, VA.
A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was found Jan 7 at Black Marsh, North Point SP,
Baltimore Co, MD.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES continued to visit feeders throughout the area including
individuals in Salem, VA; Lincoln, Loudoun Co, VA, and in Albemarle Co, VA.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and PALM WARBLERS continued to be seen at a variety
of locations as well as an occasional PINE WARBLER visiting feeders. A
NASHVILLE WARBLER was seen Jan 7 on Daingerfield Island, Alexandria, VA. A
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER visited a feeder in Virginia Beach, VA throughout
the week.
A PAINTED BUNTING visited a feeder in Prince William Co, VA on Jan 5 and 6.
The female PAINTED BUNTING visiting a feeder on Carmody Ln in Ocean City, MD
was seen again Jan 6.
A DICKCISSEL turned up Jan 4 and 5 in a backyard in Berwyn Heights, Prince
George's Co, MD.
***
This week's report was based on reports on the DE, MD, VA, and WV list
servers, and eBird records.
The Audubon Sanctuary Shop (301-652-3606,
http://anshome.org/naturalist-shop)is an excellent source for guidebooks and
many other nature-related titles.
To report bird sightings, e-mail your report to voice@xxxxxxxxxxx.
Please post reports before midnight Monday, identify the county as well as
the state, and include your name and a Tuesday morning contact, e-mail or
phone.
Thank you for your interest, and enjoy the birds.
*Of interest to the applicable state records committee
